活着，比什么都重要！

Under the immense pressure of the two continents' enforcers, these escaped *Xuelong* (Snow Cage) criminals had no choice—

"Of course, you are different from them."

Han Dang said softly, "All transcendents who can produce a 'ticket' and are not injured are honored guests of Frozen Lake. You don't need to enter the nutrient pods. *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm) will always leave a door open for you."

"The *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm) will leave a door open for me?"

Qi Zhou frowned.

He finally made it here. Did he have to leave again?

"I'm sorry… in this world, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Even honored guests need to do something to prove their worth."

Han Dang said slowly, "The 'Heavenly Sheath Shards' you brought are enough as a ticket. But to survive, you need to bring more… While the enforcers haven't yet tightened their net, Mr. Qi Zhou, you need to hunt down those fools who refuse to enter the lake and bring back all their Heavenly Sheath Shards."

He paused slightly.

Han Dang considerately added, "Also, I know your 'Ghost Fire' can't extract them without causing damage… so bring them here whole, or cut off the key parts, package those vibrant pieces of flesh, and that will also work."

"You mean, I have to continue going out… working for you?"

Qi Zhou's expression turned somewhat ugly.

The reason he accepted the summons in the first place was to find a quiet place… If he could successfully break through to the title realm before the enforcers' encirclement arrived, then perhaps there would be a glimmer of hope for the future.

But now, he had just arrived at Frozen Lake, and Han Dang wanted to send him out to the tundra to "hunt?"

"Not for me."

Han Dang said calmly, "For us."

"You were curious earlier… why I'm collecting Heavenly Sheath Shards on a large scale."

Han Dang slowly unfurled his domain, and said softly, "Did you think you could sit back and relax by relying solely on the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm) and hiding three thousand meters underground? With the methods of Central City and Nagano… they really wouldn't be able to find our location?"

The Domain of Truth slowly expanded.

Countless dark mental energies permeated and spread throughout the domain!

Fourth-order powerhouses needed to meet a necessary condition to advance to the title realm.

Within their own domain, they had to comprehend more than one "domain law" and fuse them together—

Han Dang advanced to the fourth order because he had condensed the complete *Zhen Yan* (Truth).

Within the *Zhen Yan* (Truth) Domain, no dream walker could deceive him.

This was his domain law.

And the reason why there could be such a large gap between some individuals of the same fourth order… was because the truly top-tier fourth-order powerhouses possessed more than one "domain law."

"No wonder… I felt danger from you."

Qi Zhou narrowed his eyes, looked at the domain spreading to his feet, and said coldly, "So you've also condensed a second domain law…"

As soon as he finished speaking.

His long hair burst into flames, turning into ghastly white fire, and his ragged clothes also burned fiercely.

Qi Zhou being ranked second in the Snow Cage was enough to prove his strength…

He was preparing to advance to the title realm because he also possessed more than one domain law!

Pale Ghost Fire swirled around Qi Zhou.

Seeing this scene, Han Dang simply smiled.

The *Zhen Yan* (Truth) he had released had no malice, but it stopped just before Qi Zhou. Within this dark mental domain, countless frenziedly trembling tentacles spread out, wildly waving as they held up pieces of flesh.

Heavenly Sheaths would gradually lose their vitality after being separated from their hosts.

But within the *Zhen Yan* (Truth) Domain, these Heavenly Sheaths were actually preserving their "activity"!

Qi Zhou knew that his "Ghost Fire" could protect and isolate the vitality of flesh for a short time, which was an efficient way to preserve Heavenly Sheaths… but he couldn't complete the real extraction.

Extracting the Heavenly Sheath was like trying to hold fire with water.

It was hard to imagine that any transcendent could do such an "inconceivable" thing… Of course, non-transcendents were even less likely to be able to do it. Just the mental pressure emitted by the Heavenly Sheaths themselves was not something that ordinary people without awakening could withstand.

Once mortals came into contact with it, they would most likely collapse directly.

Everything carrying transcendent characteristics could only be touched by transcendent beings.

"These… are the 'Heavenly Sheath Shards' I've collected."

Han Dang said in a leisurely tone, "These shards can, to some extent, conceal the transcendent aura of the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm), but to hide from the eyes of those from the Tribunal, these shards are far from enough."

"Put away this disgusting domain."

Qi Zhou said with disgust, "I don't want to see these… wildly dancing flesh tentacles."

Han Dang smiled and raised his hand.

The *Zhen Yan* (Truth) instantly receded, leaving only a small shadow like a cold pool beneath his feet.

"I understand. I'll try to go out as much as possible during this time."

Qi Zhou said in an icy tone, "But I need time to cultivate… Collecting Heavenly Sheath Shards is only second in importance to me."

Han Dang's eyes were calm.

He knew what Qi Zhou was planning.

This second-ranked prisoner of the Snow Cage wanted to break through to the title realm… Once he became a titled expert, his situation would be different.

Han Dang didn't say much, nor did he expose him. He simply smiled and said, "In that case, I, on behalf of my teacher and Mr. Jing Shanyan, welcome Brother Qi… During this time, you can freely find a residence within the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm), just don't forget your previous promise."

"Mm."

Qi Zhou nodded.

He looked around… What kind of residence was this ghostly place? It was just a bunch of old nutrient pods from decades ago.

But for him, that was enough.

Qi Zhou casually chose a nutrient pod and opened it.

Before settling in, he suddenly thought of something else.

"Han Dang, why didn't I see Zhu Wang and Jing Shanyan when I entered Frozen Lake?"

Han Dang, who was not far away with his hands in his sleeves, asked with a smile, "What, does Brother Qi want to see them?"

"Not really."

Qi Zhou thought for a moment. Since he was now in the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm), the domain lord Jing Shanyan must be here.

None of the people in this place were good people.

It was still most important to seize the time to cultivate and break through as soon as possible.

…

…

Qi Zhou entered a state of "false sleep."

Although his eyes were closed and he seemed to have scattered mental energy, appearing vulnerable… that wasn't actually the case.

The cultivation he was undergoing was not a true immersion of selflessness.

He would immediately sense any disturbance from the outside world and respond accordingly—

Within the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm), those transcendents who were too weak could heal wholeheartedly.

Because their lives were in Han Dang's hands.

Coming to Frozen Lake meant abandoning dignity, giving up everything, and only pursuing illusory hope.

But Qi Zhou was different from these people.

He was afraid of Han Dang stabbing him in the back, and he was also afraid of the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm) suddenly turning hostile… Even though he had come to Frozen Lake, he didn't trust anyone. He wanted to hold his fate in his own hands.

Outside the nutrient pod, Han Dang watched Qi Zhou "fall asleep."

He didn't make a move. He just stood there quietly for a few minutes before slowly leaving… The *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm) was submerging with hundreds of nutrient pods. This domain was like a large fish, diving into Frozen Lake and desperately heading towards the Earth's core.

Most of the time, the "living environment" within this domain was terrible.

Only where people were would there be some "optimization."

Han Dang left, and these nutrient pods were shrouded in darkness.

Many years ago, when Nagano planned the "Stars" Project, they certainly didn't expect that one day, this plan would actually be implemented… by a group of desperate people, to fight against themselves.

…

…

Han Dang actually didn't go far.

He just walked to the end of the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm). If this domain was really a large fish, then where Han Dang had now come to was the fish's head.

When diving, the fish's head faced downwards.

This was the deepest point of the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm).

Boundless darkness, completely black.

There was the sound of dripping blood, which couldn't create any echo in the hundred-meter cold abyss of Frozen Lake.

The domain beneath Han Dang's feet spread out again.

This time, his *Zhen Yan* (Truth) only spread a little before connecting with the boundless darkness… as if this darkness was originally part of his domain.

Opposite him, several towering chains stretched out.

The end of the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm) was actually a prison.

These towering chains, which stretched from the depths of endless darkness, were of unknown length. With a shake, they pierced through a gaunt and withered body, firmly locking it in the prison.

]

Han Dang sat down cross-legged.

He looked at the slumped figure in front of him and said sincerely, "Senior Jing… I'm back. Have you thought about it this time?"

As his voice fell.

Han Dang raised his palm, igniting a very weak flame.

This flame illuminated the gaunt and withered face of the old man in the prison. His hair was whiter than withered snow, and his energy had collapsed. His experience of being imprisoned in the *Xuelong* (Snow Cage) for thirty years made him look very old, completely unlike a titled transcendent.

He was weakened to the extreme.

The culprit behind all of this… was the densely packed "Heavenly Sheath Shards" inserted into him.

Underneath the open black prison shirt, there were nearly a hundred slender stone sword fragments piercing through his skin and into his bones. Each Heavenly Sheath Shard was dissolving his transcendent source essence…

A titled expert was imprisoned in his own domain.

This was simply an incomprehensible thing.

But… it was actually happening now.

"…"

Jing Shanyan's dry lips moved slightly, but he ultimately didn't say a word.

"It seems you need more time to consider."

Han Dang said with a smile, "It's okay, we have time… I'll accompany you on this last leg of the journey."

He reached out and undid his clothes…

An even more shocking scene appeared.

Previously, Qi Zhou had only seen the Heavenly Sheath Shards that Han Dang had stored in the *Zhen Yan* (Truth) Domain, but he had overlooked one thing… How did Han Dang manage to extract them perfectly?

As the thin clothes were undone.

A dense "rustling" sound rang out.

Countless wriggling "flesh" became active—

Han Dang's skin was riddled with as many as several thousand holes, which now looked like eyeballs. Those Heavenly Sheath Shards had long since sunk into them, leaving only a small tail end, like flexible rotating pupils.

"Gurgle."

Even though he had seen this scene many times.

At this moment, the old man in the prison still felt a wave of nausea.

Crazy.

This was something only a madman could do—using his body as a container to nurture Stone Sword Shards!

Han Dang reached out his finger and casually pulled out a slender shard!

Jing Shanyan's expression turned pale, and he took a deep breath.

The next moment.

This slender shard was held down by Han Dang and sent into his own shoulder blade.

Another layer of "curse" was added to him!

"…Ugh!!!"

The withered old man endured this wave of intense pain.

He stared intently at the young man whose body was covered in Heavenly Sheath Holes. The latter had a smile on his face, looking very relaxed, even with a hint of enjoyment… As if doing these things was a pleasure!

If he wasn't a madman, then who was?

In terms of injuries alone, Han Dang's injuries were even more severe than his own.

It was just that these "Stone Sword" Shards could suppress titled transcendents, but had no suppressing effect on fourth-order experts…

The only explanation he could think of was.

Han Dang's domain law possessed a certain special effect.

"Senior Jing Shanyan… how do you feel?"

While Han Dang asked with concern, he pulled out one Heavenly Sheath Shard after another from his body and inserted it into the old man's body.

"Pfft."

"Pfft."

The cruelty of this torture wasn't just about the stimulation of the body.

More importantly…

The loss of transcendent power.

Jing Shanyan's mind was on the verge of collapse… It was just a pity that Han Dang wouldn't give him a chance to mentally collapse.

The ultimate goal of this mental torture was to force him to speak.

Once he died, everything would be gone.

Jing Shanyan had once thought of humiliatingly "committing suicide," but he had even more humiliatingly discovered that he couldn't even do such a thing.

This was in his own domain.

The power of the *Bi Wang Quan Jie* (Azure King Authority Realm) was still running… It was just that his own will couldn't be conveyed.

Thus, this domain followed the original will of its master, constantly deepening into the interior of Frozen Lake, deeper and deeper.

In the darkness.

Jing Shanyan struggled to maintain his last bit of will, staring intently at the madman who was savoring pleasure in pain.

This torture was different from before and didn't last too long.

Perhaps considering that Jing Shanyan was too old, and continuing to torture him… might really kill him.

Han Dang stopped in time.

He had inserted another twenty-nine Heavenly Sheath Shards into Jing Shanyan's body.

This was the real reason he hadn't publicly announced his collection of "Heavenly Sheath Shards"… To suppress the titled expert in the prison, he needed to consume a large number of shards…

Of course, this thing had other wonderful uses as well.

Han Dang licked his lips and asked with a smile, "Senior Jing, it seems… you've made up your mind not to speak. Is the Stars Project really that important? These pods have all been dug out, so what's so hard to say?"

Jing Shanyan's voice was hoarse and trembling, "I have nothing to say to you."

"Alas."

Han Dang sighed.

He lowered his head and asked in a soft voice, "Senior… I've always admired you. Actually, I don't want to torture you either… But I want to live, is that wrong?"

"…"

There was silence on the other side.

Han Dang's tone became even gentler. He looked at Jing Shanyan and asked seriously, "How about we play a game? Can you guess what my second domain law is? Can you dig out all these secrets before you die?"

The old man raised his head with a pale expression.

The first law of the *Zhen Yan* (Truth) Domain was that no one could lie.

This was a very ordinary law, which didn't seem very powerful.

What exactly was Han Dang's second law… that allowed him to be so powerful that he could even ignore the curse of the Heavenly Sheath?